Coal-mining machine



' Dec. 13, 1927.

M. HOLMES COAL MINING MACHINE Filed June 26, 1 25 m m h ,0 A2 mw ZI 1/,6 1 Q v .35 w fi A. I A 1 A m h 4 1 h U m 1 1 M, Z a 1 an 4 PatentedDec. 1 3, 1927.

i 1,652,529" -eeUzNl ED STA ES A E -QFFI Y Mon'nrsr, HOLMES, orCLAREMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR, To SULIlIVAN MACHINERY COMPANY, aooRroRATIoN or MASSACHUSETTS,

GOAL-MINING MAC INE.

Application filed M26, 1925. Serial No. 39,857.

This invention relates to coal mining machines of the bottom cuttingtype and more particularly to the feeding means therefor.

In the-undercutting of'coal in seams which.

5 are, steeplyinclined, it is the common pr'ac tice to movethe cuttingmechanism up the pitch dur ng. insertionof the cut, 1t being found thatthis is the better method for a number of reasons. During theinsertion-of such cutsthe resistance to movement of the,

machine is of course substantially greater than during undercutting onthe level. for

not only nust the resistance opposed by the coaLbe overcome, butcinaddition the Weight .15 of the machine is in part supportedby theflexible feedingmeans. As a result the possibilities of breakage of thefiez ziblefeedin'g 'members; employed inthe traction of the machineduring cutting is somewhat iin-' 'creased and it is therefore desirableto make some provision for the safety of the operator and of the machinein the eventof the break age of the flexible traction member. Even underthe conditions which exist during cute ting 'onjthe level the jackslareaptto slip and this possibility also gives rise to a need for additionalsafety provisions in cuttingon a steep pitch. Finally, in the event thatthe motor is stopped While the machine is cutting, up asteep pitch, itis possible With certain types of, feedoperating gearing for the Weightofthemachine to causeit to slip back-down hill, s r

e A "principal-object of the present invention is to provide safetymeans for prevent;

ing damage to a'mining machine-or injuryto the'operator due to failure,or interruption of operation from'any cause, ofthe feeding means. Morespecifically, it is an object of 40 adapted 1 to be associated with amining ma chineforthe purpose of providingan auxiliaryyflexibleconnection with a; point in advance of the machine, together Wvithemeans for'controlling the length'of said connection permitting thelengthof the connectionto be freelyv varied as desired, but normallyoperalive to shorten theconnection in proportion I to the shortening oftheadvance flexible feeding )O1'tlO11,'a11'd automatically operativeto-prevent lengthening ofvsai'd connection, whereby failure of thefeeding means will not result disastrously. Other objects and advantagesof the invention vill hereinafter more :fully appear. 7 I

matically. preventing the lengthening of the the invention toprovidea'safety mechanism Ina preferred form the invention may takes the formof a drum and the connection the form of a cable adapted to be Woundupon the drum and preferably the means for effectingshortening'ofthecoiinection takes the form ofactuating mechanismdrivenby cooperation with the advance flexible feeding portion of themachine; In'a preferred form the mechanism comprises meansautoconnection except when desired and comprises a friction controlledratchet mechanism which is preferably of a charaoterlsuchthatan'operator may reverse {the operation ofthe' ratchet mechanism toadapt the mechanis1n .to use on opposite sides of ja mining machine whendirections.

In the accompanying 'dra v'ings invvhich oneillustrative embodiment ofthe invention is disclosed: i

'l:ig. 1 is aplanyieyv of a mining machine equipped avith theillustrative form of niy invention. V p i I Fig. '2 isa elevation of amining ma{ chine so equipped] I Fig. 3 isacentral vertical section onthe line3-3ofFig2 e .Fig. 4 :is-a hprizontal section 'on the line ttoffFig. 3. f ,Fig.. 5 ;i an enlarged viewof the pawl mechanism uponplane correspondingto that of Fig. 4f i I 1 cutting in opposite,Referring to the drawings, a mining machine 1 havinga poiver drivenfeed operating member 2 isfed by the cooperation of said feedoperatingmember with a flexible feeding member 3 in the form'of a -chainextending from a guide sheave 4 at the for- .Ward end of the machine toa'point in 'ad:

vance ofthe latter, the angle of the machine to. the vork beingcontrolled by arece'ding portion '5 extending to a jack or ,takeupmember (not shown) to the rear of the min-v ing machine. Theinachine isadapted to cut in opposite directions, a guide sheave *1 correspondingto the sheave t being disposed at the forward end of the opposite sideof the'machine and sprockets G and 6 being provided in duplicate at therear end of the machine about which the chain 3 may pass between thefeed sprocket 2 and the guide sheaves 4.- and P.

The safety device generally designated 10, comprises an attaching orbase plate 11 which may be bolted or otherwise securely mounted oneither side of the machine frame 1 and between the ends of the latter.Adjacent its corners the plate 11 is provided with attaching lugs; upperlugs 12 slotted to provide spaced pairs of lugs, and lower lugs 13. Theseveral lugs are provided with openings through which heavy boltmembers14 may pass, and upper and lower end mem- ,interfit with the ratchetteeth.

hers 15, 16 respectively are held. rigidly to the base plate 11 by thebolts 14-. The end members 15 and 16 have alined bores 17 and 18 inwhich grease bearing bushings 19 and 20 are respectively mounted. Ashaft 22 is. journaled in the bushings 19 and 20 and a collar 23 thereonprevents downward lon gitudinal movement of the shaft. Keyed to theshaft 22 is a sleeve member 24 notched as at 25 at its upper end topermit the clutching thereto of a member later described. A drum 26 iskeyed at its lower end to the sleeve 24 and is adapted to constitute awinding member for the safety connection 27. 'Within an annular recess28 between the upper end of the drum and the exterior of the sleeve 24lies the sleevelike bottom portion 29 of a ratchet member 80. The member30, which is of larger diameter at its upper end than at its sleeveportion 29 is provided with an exterior braking surface 32 and with aninternal set of ratchet teeth 33. \Vithin the toothed portion of themember is disposed an annular pawl carrier 34 whose lower portion hasclutch teeth 35 engaging in the sockets 25 in the member 24. The pawlcarrier accordingly rotates with'the drum 26. In the periphery of thepawl carrier 34 are cut aseries of approxi mately semi-circular recesses36 in which double pawl members 37 areoscillatably mounted; The recessesopen through the inher wall of the member 34. Each of the pawls of ashape formed by cutting ofi unequal segments of a circle to provideopposite parallel sides and then cutting away the remaining material toleave at each outer corner a pawl or tooth portion adapted to It will beevident that pressure applied to the arcuate ends of the pawl memberswill be transmitted by them to the opposite ends of the recesses 36 andthere will be very little tendency towards oscillation, while the toothor pawl portions will readily sli over the ratchetteeth on movement in te opposite direction. The opposite sides of the pawl members 37 arerecessed as at 38 for coaetion with spring pressed follower pins.\Vithin the bore 39 of the annular pawl carr rier 3 1 is a ring 10carryingradially disposed spring pressed follower pins 12 adapted toengage in the recesses 38. A handle 43 is mounted on the upper end ofshaft 22 and may be securely held thereto by a screw all. The handle hasa sleeve PUltlOILlil which enters a central opening in the ring 10 andkeyed to the latter. It will be evident that on loosening oi? the screwit the handle may be turned to. move the ring and with the latter thepins 12 so that the aca tion of the pawls 37 will be reversed, andrctightening of the screw will maintain the setting.

A brake band -16 having supporting lugs 17 disposed between the spacedlugs 12 and traversed by the bolts or rods 14, is adapted to cooperatewith the braking surface 32. The band is of the split type and carriesat its ends ears -18 respectively pivotally con nected to a threaded rod19 and to a stirrup within whose shank 51 the rod 49 is slidablymounted. The cars 18 lie within the loop of the stirrup. A hand wheel 52carries a threaded nut 53 which coacts with the tln'caded rod 49 totighten and loosen the brake band. The rod 4.) secured to its associatedcar 18 by a pin 5:) whose extended ends slide in slots :36 in thestirrup member 50 to guide the parts. The end ofthe stirrup has anopening. 57 therein to permit assembly. d i

At its lower end the shaft 22 has keyed thereto a driving membero-itwhose periphery is grooved to COOPGIM'C with the feed chain. In theevent that a cable or rope feed were en'iployed, the driving membercould be replaced by a rope engaging member, The effective diameter orpitch. diameter oi the member 5-1 is the same as that of the drum 26. i1

From the foregoing description the mode of operation of the inventionwill already be apparent. It may be said, however, that dependent on thedirection in which it is intended to act, the mechanism 10 will bemounted on one side or the other of the ma-Z chine frame, being alwaysmounted on the advancing side of the latter and with the flexiblefeeding member engaging element 5 1 in the plane of the sheaves 1 and (lor 4 and 6. When sumping is completed, the brake band 16 is slackenedand the chain 3 and the cable 27 are led up to the top of the pitch andpreferably fastened to separate jacks. The cable 27 should have a l ttleslack in it when cutting commences. The engagement of the links of chain3 with the driving wheel behaving been checked up, feed ing and cuttingmaybe begun. The machine will then move up the incline along the chain 3and as the sprocket 54 runs along the chain it willrotate the drum andwind in the cable 27. Should the feed chain break or its jack slip orany other .part of the feeding mechanism break, the cable 27 willsupport the machine, for though the pawl slips freely over theratchetteeth during winding in,,opposite rotation of the drum is impossible.When thetop of the pitch is reached, the niachine may be lowered byslackening the brake band. In cutting in .the opposite direction thepositions stood that this form of the sameis shown forzpurposes ofillustration and that the invention may be modified aII'dBIIlbDCllQd invarious'other forms without departing from its spirit or the; scope ofxjthe appended claims r r What I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:' r

1. Inwa mining" apparatus, a mining machine having feeding mechanismincluding flexible feeding means andfeed operating means cooperatingtherewithandadapted to shorten an advancefeedingportion to move the;machine towards a point in advance.

thereof, and 'asafetydevice on the machine operative to support themachine on failure of any part of its feeding mechanism including safetyflexible connection, winding means associated therewith, andmeanscooperating with said Winding means to maintain tliefree length of thesafety flexible connection substantially the same as the free length ofthe advance feeding portion.

'2. In a mining apparatus, a mining ma chine having feeding mechanismincluding flexible feeding means and feed operat'ing means cooperatingtherewith and adapted to shorten .an advance feeding portion I to movethe machine towards a point in 1 advance thereof, and ausafety device onthe machine operative to support the machine on failure of any partof'its feedingmechanisnrineluding a safety flexible connection, windingmeans-associated therewith, and means cooperating with said windingmeans and operated bysaid feeding mechanism to main-' tain the freelength 'of the safety flexible connection substantially thesameas thefree length of the advance feeding portion.

- 3. :In: asmining apparatus, a mining machine having feedingmechanismqincluding flexible feedingmeans and ,feed operating meanscooperating tlierewith and adapted to shorten an advancefeeding'portionto move themachine towards a. point in ad vancethereof,and a safety device on the machine operative to support the machine onthe machine towards a 7 failure of its feeding mechanism including asafety flexible connection, winding means associated therewith, andmeans cooperating with said winding. means and operated by said flexiblefeeding means ;to maintain the free lengthof the safety flexibleconnection substantially the same as the free length of the advancefeeding portion.

4. Inya mining apparatus,-a mining-machine having feedingmechanismincluding flexible feeding means and feed operating meanscooperating therewith and adapted to shorten an advance feeding portionto move the machine towards a point in advance thereof, and a safetydevice on the machine operative to support the machine on failure ofitsfeeding mechanism including a safety flexibleconnection, Winding meansassociated therewith, and means cooperating with said winding means andoperated by said advance feeding portion to maintain the free length ofthesafety flexible connection substantially the same asthe'free lengthof the advancefeeding portion.

5. In a miningapparatus, a mining ma chine'having feeding mechanismincluding flexible feeding means and feed operating means cooperatingtherewith and adapted to shorten an advance feedingportion to move themachine towards .'a point in advance thereof,and a safety device on themachine operative to support the machine on failure of any part of itsfeeding mechanism including a .safety fl exible connection, a drumassociatedtherewith, and means cooperating with said drum tomaintain thefreelength of the safety flexible connection substantially the same asthe free length'of the advance feeding portion. I 7

6. In a mining apparatus, amining ma chine. having feedingmechanismincluding flexible=feeding means and feed operating meanscooperating therewith and adapted to shortenian advance feeding portionto move the :machine towards 'a point in advance thereof, anda'safetydevice on the machine operative to support the machineontfailure of'any part of its feeding mechanism including-a safetyflexible connection, winding means cooperatingtherewith and'adapted to Vshorten an advance feeding portion to move point in advanceth'ereof,-and a'safety device on the'ma'c'hine operative to supportthemachine on failure of any part of its feeding mechanism including asafety flexible connection, winding means associated therewith, andmeans coopcrating with said winding means to maintain the free length ofthe safety flexible connectionsubstantially the same as the free lengthof the advance feeding portion, said means having associated therewithratchet means for preventing reverse rotation of said winding means. a

8. In a mining apparatus, a mining ma chine having feeding mechanismincluding flexible feeding means and "feed operating means cooperatingtherewith and adapted to shorten an advance feeding portion to move themachine towards a point in ad ancc thereof, and a safety deviceoperative to support the machine on: failure of its feeding mechanismincluding a safety flexible connection, winding means associated therewith, and means cooperating with said winding means to maintain the freelength of the safety flexible connection substantially the same as thefree length of the advance feeding portion. said :means havingassociated therewith friction controlled ratchet means for preventingreverse rotation of said winding means. i

9. In a mining apparatus, a mining machine having feeding mechanismincluding flexible feeding means and feed operating means cooperatingtherewith and adapted to shorten an advance feeding portion to move themachine towards a point in advance thereof, and a safety device on themachine operative to support the machine on failure of any part of itsfeeding mech anism including a safety flexible connection, winding meansassociated therewith, and means cooperating with said winding means tomaintain the free length of the safety flexible connection substantiallythe same as the free length of the advance feeding portion, said meanshaving associated therewith reversible ratchet means for preventingreverse rotation of said winding means. i

a 10. In a mining apparatus, a mining machine having feeding mechanismlncluding flexible feeding means and feed operating means cooperatingtherewith and adapted to shorten an advance feeding portion to move themachine towards a point in advance thereof, and a safety deviceoperative to supportvthe machine on failure of its feed ing meehanismincluding a safety flexible connection, windingmeans associatedtherewith, and means cooperating with said winding means to maintainthe'free length of the safety flexible connection substantially the sameas the free length of the advance feeding portion, said means havingassociated therewith reversible friction controlled ratchet means forpreventing reverse rota-- tion of said winding means.

11. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, a support, a rotatableshaftjournaled thereon, drivingimeans for said shaft adapted foractuation by thefeeding mechanism of a mining machine, a winding mem'ber separate from the feeding mechanism and rotatable by said shaft, andratchet and pawl mechanism comprising elements rotatable relative toeach other, one of said elements being operatively connect.- ed with oneof said rotatable members and the other normally held stationary.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, a support, a rotatableshaft member journaled thereon, driving means for said shaft memberadapted for actuation by the feeding mechanism of a mining machine, awinding member separate from the feeding mechanism and concentric withand rotatable by said shaft member, and ratchet and pawl mechanismcomprising elements rotatablerelative to eachothenone of said elementsbeing operatively connected with one of said rotatable members and theother normally held stationary. i

13. In an apparatus of the character described, a support, arotatableushaftjournaled thereon, driving means for said shaft adaptedfor actuation by the feedingmechanism of a mining machine,a windingmember separate from the feedingrmechanism and rotatable by said shaft,and ratchet and paw] mechanism comprising elements rotatable relative toeach other, oneof said'elements being operatively connected with saidwinding member and the other normally held stationary. i 1 i 14-. In anapparatus ofthc character described, a support, a rotatable shaftjournaled thereon, driving means for said shaft adapted for actuation bythe feeding mechanism of a mining machine, a winding member separatefrom thefeeding mechanism and rotatable by said shaft, and ratchet andpawl mechanism comprising elements rotatable relative to each other,oneof said elements being operatively connected to and coneentricflwithsaid winding member and the other normally held stationary.

15. In an apparatus of the character described, a support, a rotatableshaft member journaled thereon, driving means for said shaftmemberadapted for actuation bythe feeding mechanism of a mining 1nachine,awinding member rotatable by said Shaft member, and ratehctandpawlmechanism comprising elements rotatable relative to each other, oneof said elements being operatively connected with one of said rotatablemembers and friction means for holding the other stationary. i i

16. In an appa 'atus of the character described. a support, a rotatableshaft journaled thereon, driving means for said shaft adapted foractuation by the feeding mechanismof a mining machine, a winding memandsaid pawl element being mounted for rotation with said winding means.

17. In an apparatus of the character described, a support, a rotatableshaft journaled thereon, driving means for said shaft adapted foractuation by the feeding mechanism of a m1n1ng machine, a winding memberrotatable by said shaft, and ratchet and pawl mechanism comprisingelements rota'table relative to eachother, said ratchet element havingfrictional controlling means and said pawl'element being mounted forrotation with said shaft.

18. In an apparatus of the character described, a support,'a rotatableshaft jours naled thereon, driving means for said shaft adapted foractuation by the feeding mech-.

anism of a mining machine, a winding mem-' ber separate from the feedingmechanism and rotatable by said shaft, and ratchet and pawl mechanismcomprising elements rotatable relative to each other, said ratchet andpawl mechanism including pawl means rotatable with said shaft. 5

19. In an apparatus of the "character described, a support, a rotatableshaft journaled thereon, driving means for said shaft adapted foractuation by the feeding mechanism of a mining machine, a winding memberseparate from the feeding mechanism and rotatable by said; shaft, andratchet and pawl mechanism comprising elements rotatable relative toeach other, said ratchet and pawl mechanism including pawl meansrotatable with said shaft and means for rendering said pawl meansreversely operative carried by and rotatable relative to said shaft.

' 1 the opposite direction. 20. In an apparatus of'the character described, a support, a rotatable shaft jour naled thereon, driving meansfor said shaft adapted for actuation by the feeding mechanism of amining machine, a'winding member separate from the feeding mechanism androtatable by said shaft, and ratchet and pawl mechanism comprisingelements rotatable relative to each other, said ratchet andpawlmechanism including pawl means rotatablei with said shaft, means forrendering said pawl means'reversely operatlve carried.

by androtatablerela'tive to said shaft, and

,means for securing said last mentioned means to said shaft.

21. In a mining apparatus, a mining machine having fee-ding mechanismincluding flexible feeding means and a rotatable member adapted to drawin said flexible feeding means, and a safety device on the machineoperative to support the machine upon failure of any part of the feedingmechanism comprising a flexible safety member and a rotatable memberseparate from said rotatable feedingmember for drawing in said flexiblesafety member.

22. In a mining apparatus, a machine having feeding mechanism includingflexible feeding means, and feed operating means cooperatingtherewithand adapted to shorten an advancefeeding portion to move the machinetowards a' point in advance thereof,

and a safety device on the machine operative to support the machine onfailure of its feeding mechanism including a safety flexible connection,winding means separate from the feed operatlng means associated withsaid safety connection, means cooper ating with said winding means torotate the same in one direction'to' maintain the free length of saidsafety flexible connection substantially the same as the free length ofthe advance feeding portion, and means for preventing rotation of saidwinding means in In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

' 'MOR'RIS P. HOLMES.

